Sonos S1 hangs when attempting to add any music service


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Hi. I’ve had an S1 system for over a decade (3x S5 gen1, Amp and Connect) and it generally worked fine. Over the years I’ve subscribed to (legit) Napster, Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Apple Music and Deezer. Plus BBC Sounds and a few other services without issue. 

Last night, we purchased our first S2 product, a Move. I removed all existing devices, reset them and, after setting up the S2 with Move, created a new clean S1 system.

All of the devices are there, but the only thing I can connect to is Sonos Radio. If I click to add a music service I just get a spinning ball type icon (happy to share a screen grab if needed) and the app hangs. It responds fine if I select to add a voice system.

I’ve obviously rebooted everything multiple times. I’ve reset the S1 app. I’ve deleted and reinstalled it. On two iOS phones. Nothing works. There are no issues using the Move on the S2 app. All services are visible and available to add.

I spent over an hour on Sonos chat and was ultimately told to call the UK freephone number quoting a case reference. When calling the number a voice recording informs that lines are closed. At 10am when they’re supposedly open?

I’m at a dead end and we’ve gone from ‘let’s trade all of the S1 kit up to a new S2 setup and add a sound bar and sub for the lounge’ to ‘the S2 is going straight back to the shop and the S1s in a skip because we can’t listen to anything.’

Before I literally take the S1 stuff to the recycling centre, does anybody have any tips or ideas that might save the day? To say we’re fed up is an understatement.

Thanks.

 

 

Corry P 10 months ago

Hi @popguru et al

To confirm what @doctorbee just reported, we now consider this issue resolved. If you continue to experience this issue, please get in touch with our technical support team for assistance.

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59 replies

Userlevel 1

FYI… After a lengthy call with Sonos Support Level 3 confirmed it is a known issue which will be fixed in a future App Update. They are trying to get me an ETA and version # in which it is scheduled to be fixed. If I happen to get that I’ll respond here...

Userlevel 7
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Hi @jpastagar 

We are aware of an issue preventing users from adding music services via a Android or iOS controller on S1 systems and are investigating. As yet, we have no estimation for when this will be resolved.

In the meantime, and as you have found, you can add services as per usual with the desktop (Windows or macOS) Sonos app, via the menu. Please note that this will not work with Apple Music, however.

I hope this helps.

 

Userlevel 7
Badge +18

Hi All

I’ve looked into all your account details and locations trying to find a solid pattern here, but there really isn’t enough information to go on as of yet. I recommend that you all get in touch with our technical support team who have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your Sonos systems and what they report. Hopefully, they will find solutions for you, but if not, we may at least be a step closer to identifying an issue that needs fixed.

I hope this helps.

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Following this thread. I’m having the exact same issue. I’ve had my Sonos system for over 10 years as well, with no new additions since purchasing it. I have two Play:1s, one Play:5, one Play:3, a bridge, and am running the S1 app. I am also unable to add new music services and I have tested on 2 separate devices, my iPad and my iPhone. I have reset my router (single router in home, no extenders), reset the Sonos bridge, associated a new AP, reset the app and rebooted my iphone, and I’m still getting the same spinning circle when trying to add a new service. 

Not great when the only service you have is Apple Music. Please release a fix ASAP Sonos!

Userlevel 7
Badge +18

Hi @popguru 

Welcome to the Sonos Community!

First, I am very sorry to hear of the trouble you’ve had with your Sonos system, and the customer support experience you’ve gone through so far trying to find a resolution. Please be assured that your experience is very important to us and I’ll try my best to get you up and running once more.

Unfortunately, you have demonstrated exactly why we say you should not factory reset your Sonos products unless we specifically instruct you to do so - it can indeed make things much worse, and in your case, there was absolutely no good reason or need for you to do so. We are not without blame in this, however, as the page where you can buy Move absolutely should not say that you need our S2 software to operate the device - as @Keithmac says, Move is S1 compatible. I’ve asked for our page to be corrected.

In addition, I’d like to apologise for the fact that you were unable to get through on our technical support lines - I’m not sure why you couldn’t, but I’ve asked for someone to look into it.

I’ll start by concentrating on your S1 system. Please take the Move off it’s charging base and press and hold the power button on the back for at least 5 seconds to turn it off - you will hear a chime, and the light will go off.

It does look like you have 2 WiFi Boosters/Extenders. Please know that these are not supported because they can cause problems such as those you describe. At least until things are working again, I would request that you unplug these from power too. For extending the reach of your WiFi, we recommend the use of WiFi Mesh systems instead.

Please also turn off your Virgin Media router. Once the router has been off for at least 30 seconds, please turn it back on, but keep the extenders/boosters off. It will take the router some time to be fully up-and-running again (about 5 minutes). Once WiFi has returned, please open the Sonos app and try installing a service once more.

Looking at your diagnostics, it’s not clear what’s going wrong, but it’s important to know that everything the Sonos app does or tells you comes from a device on your system designated as the Associated Player. It is this device which actually fetches the list of services available to you. You can find out which device this is by going to Settings » System » About my system and finding the IP address of the Associated Player, then matching that IP address with a unit by scrolling down until you find a match. So, if you see the same issue again after rebooting the router, I recommend finding out which device is the Associated Player and turning it off for now. This will make another device be assigned that AP status, which may make things go differently. Please now try installing a music service once more. 

If it fails again, please go to Settings » App Preferences » Reset App » Reset. Once done, please fully reboot/restart your phone, and re-open the Sonos S1 app, swipe past the introduction, then opt to Connect to Existing System. You’ll need to log in too.

Hopefully, you will now be able to install music services to your S1 system once more. If you cannot, I can only recommend you try again to get in touch with our technical support team for some real-time troubleshooting. I do hope you will be able to get connected to an agent this time!

 

If one of - or a combination of - these steps did help and you now have your music services installed on S1 once more, we’ll now want to get your new Move onto the same system as the rest of your Sonos kit. To do this, we’ll need to reset the Move and the S2 app.

In the Sonos S2 app, select Settings » App Preferences » Reset App » Reset, then exit the app.

Please then take the following steps:

  1. With the Move still off:

  2. While holding the Join button, press and release the power button.

  3. If your Move’s battery is not charged and won’t power on, you can place it on the charging base while holding the Join button instead.

  4. Continue holding the Join button until the light on top flashes orange and white.

  5. The light will flash green when the process is complete and your Sonos Move is reset.

The Join button

Now, open the S2 app once more and follow these steps:

  1. When asked to Set up or Join a system, press More options at the bottom of the screen.

  2. Select Downgrade product to S1.

  3. The app will detect the product nearby. Follow the on-screen instructions to downgrade the product’s software to S1.

  4. You can now uninstall the Sonos S2 app from your phone.

Your Move should now be ready to be added to your S1 system in the standard way: Settings » System » Add Product, from within the Sonos S1 app.

I hope this helps.

Cannot add apple music services on my S1 system with iPhone, Windows, iOS, and android.  I was able to add amazon music with Windows, but cannot add anything else.  Apple music is completely dead.  I have tried all suggestions and still im getting the spinning circle of death.

 

Userlevel 7
Badge +18

Hi @RichardLondon 

Sonos, is there any hope of fixing this?

Absolutely - the ability to add music services to your Sonos system is fundamental to it’s operation.

Please do not rely on other people contacting us, however - if you are affected by this issue, please get in touch.

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Userlevel 7
Badge +16

Move is S1 compatible, I run mine on our whole house S1 System.

One relatively easy trial is to power down the MOVE (the only S2 component), shut down the S2 controller(s), restart the S1 controller, then attempt the music service setup.

You can install MOVE on S1. I think that this is your best plan, but I also think that you should be guided through this by SONOS support. 

As I type this, the sun is barely rising in the UK. It should open for business in a few hours.

A couple of things to mention. First, I’d recommend retiring the BRIDGE from your setup. The potential for issues that are extremely difficult to track due to a failing power supply on the BRDGE suggests one of two options. Either connect a Sonos speaker not in use as a surround or Sub, or hang everything off your Wi-Fi itself, using the ‘network’ are in the controller. 

Second, don’t assume that your network lives in a vacuum. While it is indeed likely that you’ve made no changes, it’s extremely unlikely that changes haven’t occurred without your intervention. From updates applied to your router by the manufacturer, to Wi-Fi interference from outside your network, all of these can be a factor. It might be worth a read of the wifi interference FAQ, at the least. 

But ultimately, for hard data analysis, there isn’t much that can beat a system diagnostic within 10 minutes of experiencing this problem, and a call to Sonos Support to discuss it.

There may be information included in the diagnostic that will help Sonos pinpoint the issue and help you find a solution.

When you speak directly to the phone folks, they have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your Sonos system and network.

Userlevel 7
Badge +23

This is the same issue:

I have a pre-existing S1 system and it is fine, but both of these users seem to have “new” S1 systems and neither can get them to work correctly (on mobile).

Userlevel 1

Same problem here using the S1 app with S1 speakers….

Userlevel 7
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Same issue can't add any service making Sonos system useless. I have 7 speakers from Sonos and can't even play music on s1 system , my S2 works no problem with home theater but all garden and kitchen stuff can't be used...

Why can’t you play music? Its just adding music services (on mobile) that is borked right now, nothing wrong with playback.

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Tried again today to add music services and now I’m seeing all the available options. Was able to successfully add Apple Music!

Userlevel 3

Yes, this is absolutely ridiculous and a great indicator of how Sonos is "supporting" s1. I have 20 s2 devices, 2 s1's, once again disgusted with Sonos support. 

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I am having the same issue, and when I try to use the Mac app (a solution suggested by others in this thread), I am unable to add Apple Music since that can only be added via Mobile.

 

Looking for a fix ASAP!

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I just wanted to update this thread as to where we’re up to personally. I did receive an email from Sonos support. I tried responding but received no reply. I received a follow up saying that the case would be closed unless I responded within a certain timeframe. I replied again, and received no response. I have no idea if the case is open or closed: life moves on and this was consuming far more of my time than it warranted.

It’s disappointing to see that others have encountered the same issue and - speaking with my ‘day job’ hat on for a second - it must be frustrating and not just for us as consumers but also for Sonos themselves, if there is no clear pattern emerging. We were beta testing a video game once and the team repeatedly reported interference when one particular local train passed by. Sometimes it’s just not possible to find a single root cause.

And as to our system? Well, sometimes it works. Other times it doesn’t. Rebooting every component - router, phones, Sonoses, Devolo mesh - seemingly has no impact. Units routinely and randomly drop off the network with, as far as we can tell, no environmental changes.

So, we barely use any of the players now.

Thanks once again to everyone who contributed to this thread.

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Same issue. I have an old S1 system. I haven’t added a music service for a while. I just subscribed to Apple Music.  Apple will not permit adding the service on the Sonos PC controller.  When I use the Android controller I get the same spinning icon on a blank screen. I do hope Sonos/Apple get this sorted soon. I was going to replace my two existing music streaming services with Apple Music and Apple Classical, but if this is not sorted I will have to cancel Apple when my free 30 days runs out.

Hi, 

Update my finding to solve the issue. I installed Windows/Mac Sonos software and I can add music services from PC. Then I can see the music service displayed on my iphone/Android Sonos S1. 

I’d suggest that you call Sonos Support directly to discuss it.

When you speak directly to the phone folks, they have tools at their disposal that will allow them to give you advice specific to your Sonos system and network.

I have same issue with S1 & play 5. Let’s waiting for a fix update. 

Came here looking for this, S1 and play 5 gen 1. Moved, reset and now it’s useless until this is fixed...thanks for those who pried the information out of Sonos, ridiculous they didn’t let the community know if they know.

I am having the same issue adding music sources via S1 on my iPhone.  Added Sirius, Pandora via the S1 Windows controller on my laptop.

SONOS, ARE YOU WORKING ON A FIX?  PLEASE RESPOND!

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